The Department of Politics, Law, & International Relations houses the college’s Pre-Law program. The department has a close relationship with alums who have gone on to law school and now work as district attorneys, lawyers in private practice, and other areas. Given these connections, our students have many opportunities to intern in law offices.

The Department of Politics offers two tracks, a standard BA in Politics and a BA in Law & Politics. Focusing on law provides students with an integrative approach to the study of law as a part of liberal education and introduces fundamental notions of the nature of law, its history and development, and principles which underlie its administration. The BA in Politics & Law is designed to prepare students for law school and the practice of law.

Meet Our Alumni

<span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/3-taequan-kates" title="Taequan Kates" aria-label="Taequan Kates"><img src="/live/image/gid/2/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,666/8_alumni-kates-taekuan.rev.1490105709.jpg" alt="Taequan Kates" title="Taequan Kates" class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/2/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,666/8_alumni-kates-taekuan.rev.1490105709.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1000" data-max-h="666"/></a></span><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_profiles_headline"><a href="/live/profiles/3-taequan-kates"><p> Taequan Kates (’16) Learns Legal Lessons While Interning With Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring</p></a></h4><div class="lw_profiles_description"><p> Summer breaks are meant to be exactly that: a break from the stress and hard work of the academic year. However, rising Emory & Henry College senior Taequan Kates has a tough time slowing down.</p><p> Kates who grew up in Dewitt, Va. spent much of the summer in Richmond completing an internship at the Office of Attorney General Mark Herring.</p><p> Kates was tasked with editing <em>Virginia Rules</em>, a book containing state laws to ensure it lined up with the current code statutes. His daily responsibilities found him working closely with attorneys in the office reviewing laws relevant to current cases.</p><h2> Work on Campus</h2><p> When not in the courtroom, Kates was making plans for his next big job – student body president. Kates along with fellow rising senior and student body vice-president Katie Beth Bordwine (who was also in Richmond, Va. for an internship) has been focused on a list of goals for the academic year.</p><p> Their first consideration: the feasibility of building an outdoor basketball court on campus.</p><p> “I’ve spoken with several colleges asking them about their program and trying to figure out a way to incorporate an outdoor court into our campus, and I hope this is something we can bring to Emory & Henry,” Kates said.</p><p> In his remaining free time, Kates spent time working as a counselor for at-risk children in his community. It’s a cause close to his heart, and he said he wants these children to become better citizens so they can grow up with the opportunities to chase their dreams.</p><p> “I’ve done a lot this summer, but I know all the hard work was worth it.”</p></div><a href="/live/profiles/3-taequan-kates" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div>

<span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/694-amanda-chaplin" title="Amanda Chaplin" aria-label="Amanda Chaplin"><img src="/live/image/gid/2/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,666/344_b14d61caf209471ca7ca9686b2e5bc67_f6462.rev.1500313353.jpg" alt="Amanda Chaplin" title="Amanda Chaplin" class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/2/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,666/344_b14d61caf209471ca7ca9686b2e5bc67_f6462.rev.1500313353.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1000" data-max-h="666"/></a></span><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_profiles_headline"><a href="/live/profiles/694-amanda-chaplin"><p> Amanda Chaplin (E&H ’08): Assistant District Attorney</p></a></h4><div class="lw_profiles_description"><p> Amanda Chaplin (E&H ’08) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History before heading to Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law. She received her Juris Doctorate degree in 2012 and passed the Pennsylvania bar exam in July of that same year. She began her career in the oil and gas industry. </p><p> In 2014, she became the Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Daniel P. Wallace of the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas. As a Judicial Law Clerk, she conducted research and wrote opinions for Judge Wallace in both the criminal and civil fields of law, as well as acted as a hearing master for protection from abuse petitions. </p><p> Amanda has just recently been hired as an Assistant District Attorney with the Centre County District Attorney’s Office. “As an Assistant District Attorney, I will represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in many criminal matters such as arraignments, preliminary hearings, criminal trials, sentencing and arguing cases before the Pennsylvania Superior Court located in Harrisburg, PA.”</p><p> In her spare time she likes to “paint using Bob Ross’ style of painting. I have created 12 paintings and am working on a 13th painting.” So we suspect she makes happy trees…and unhappy criminals.</p></div><a href="/live/profiles/694-amanda-chaplin" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div>